Service-box key.



S. T. DOWNS.

I SERVICE BOX KEY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1-910.

' LGEB, 17, I Patgnted Feb. 20, 1912.

awm fiamue? Downs UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

SAMUEL T. DOWNS, OF IRVINGTON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T H. MUELLER MANUFAC-TURING COMPANY OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SERVICE-BOX KEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Application filed August 1, 1910. Serial No. 575,039.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL T. Downs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Irvington, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have'invented newand useful Improvements in Service-Box Keys, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in service box keys, and hasparticular relation to devices which are take-down in character and inwhich are combined various tools usable in connection with service boxstructures and their operation. a

The principal object of my invention-1s to provide a service box keywhich can be readily taken apart and assembled, and which provides foradjustments in the length of the key to suit various conditions.

A further. object of, my invention is to provide a structure of this tpe which, when taken apart-,can be carried in the take-down conditionwithin a small space and in the form of a package which can be readilyhandled.

A further object is to combine, in a device of this type, means wherebythe various difficult'ies arising in manipulating service box structuresmay be readily overcome, the parts coiiperating with one another toproduce the required operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a particular form ofconnection between parts, by means of which a rptative movement of onepart to the other'is absolutely prevented without necessitating theprovision of a connecting sleeve intricate to operate.

A further object is to provide a structure of this type in which theform oiioonnection is similar in all of the parts, whereby adjustabilityand interchangeability may be had.

Other and further objects of the invention are to provide a device ofthis type which is simple and efiicient in operation, durable inconstruction, readily taken down or assembled, and which can bemanufactured at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understoodas the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists inthe improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying.

drawings and particularly pointed "out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts in each of. the views,Figur'e 1 is a .view inelevation of a service box key formed in accordance with my invention,the view showing a'number of lengthening sections and one form of socketkey which may be employedin connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview taken longitudinally of one of the connecting joints. Fig. 3 is aplan view of one end ot a socket key. Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views ofthe opposite end of socket keys showing various sizes of openings. Fig.6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a socket key of differentform. Fig.7 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a modified formof a cross bar structure.

As is well known service boxes are of varying length, the part to beoperated be ing embedded at various depths according to the particularlocation of the valve of the service pipe relative to the main pipe.Obviously, to provide a key capable-of mani ulating boxes of all kinds,it is necessary t at the key be of sufficient length to provide for themaximum depth of embedding; where the key is formed of a single'piece,it becomes unwieldy both in transportation and in operation where theembedding depth is small. Another feature in connection with serv-. icebox operation is the fact that not only is it required to mani ulate theactual valve which is located wlthin and protected by the service box,but in addition there is a general requirement that not only mustmanipulation of the cap of/ the service box be had, but in addition itis necessary to uncover the latter from dirt, washings or ice, etc.

The present invention is intended to meet these and other conditions,the following construction being used for the purpose.

The service box key forming the subject matter of the present inventioncomprises a handle portion, a series of socketkeys,

and one or more lengthening members, these parts having complementalstructures.

providing a rapid connectingof some or en-1" of the members to form acomplete structure of more or less length, the connections being suchthat any me part is connectible with any other part, thereby providingboth for adjustability as to length and interchangeability to accordwith the necessary requirements to meet the varying conditions.

The handle portion, designated as 10, is preferably, formed as indicatedin Fig.1, in which 11 designates a rigid portion circular in crosssection and having its upper end formed an ular in cross section, as at12, said angu ar portion terminating in a pointed end 13, and having itsseveral sides preferably inclined toward the pointed end in order that atightening of the cross bar 14 may be had thereon, said cross bar havingan opening 15 of complemental configuration and formed with inclinedwalls to fit the walls of the angular portion. One end of the cross bar14 ispointed, as at 16, while the other end is wed e-shaped, as at 17,said ends of the cross bar serving the same functions as the ordinarypick, while the removal of the cross bar permits of the handle, whenconnected up with the extension or lengthening parts presentlydescribed, to act in a manner similar to a crowbar, the pointed end 13being rovided for this purpose, or to serve as a fu crum in operating 1nthe manner of a pick.

If desired, the handle ortion may be formed of one piece, as indlcatedin Fig; 8, in which case the servlceability as a crow- -bar would beeliminated, leaving the pointed end 13 useful as a means for removingice, etc., and serving as a fulcrum point where it is desired to providea prying-11p of a part. 7

The lower end of the handle portion is provided with a .collar 18 spacedfrom the end, the portion between the collar and the end being in theform of a male memher 19 angular in cross section, and having itsangular points lying wholly within and spaced from the peripheral lineof the collar 18. Mounted loosely on the cylindrical ortion 11 is ascrew-threaded sleeve 20 havmg an inturned upper flange 21 formed withan opening of less diameter than the diameter of the periphery of thecollar 18, the sleeve being formed to have a free movementlongitudinally of the cylindrical por-' tion but prevented fromremoval'therefrom by the collar 18, said collar serving as a riding facefor the flange 21 when the sleeve is turned home inconnecting one of theparts to be described to the handle. This particular form of the maleconnecting member is employed in each connection used in completing thekey.

The female member of the connection is Y said head being formed with anangular recess 23 adapted to receive the male portion 19, the two partsbeing of complemental v20 will cause the screw threads to engage,

the sleeve 20 being simply run down on the member 22 until contact ishad of the collar 18 and the flange 21 at which time the parts connectedby this connection are held against longitudinal movement by reason ofthe screw-threaded connection and the contact of flange and collar, andagainst rela tive rotative movement by reason of the angularity of thecomplemental male and female portions.

In the drawings I have shown the male and female portions as of angularconfiguration, being square in cross section; obviously, the contour ofthe angular portion may be varied by a greater or less number of faceswhich may be of unequal length if desired. Or the configuration of thesecomplemental members may extend on curved lines regular or irregular,such, for instance, as an oval or other non-circular configuration, anequivalent thereto being the use of one or more pins and correspond ingrecesses, located to provide the equivalent of an off-center position,all of these forms being included within the scope of the invention inthis respect, the purpose being to provide complemental portions located entirely within and spaced from the plane of the screw-threadedconnection of the sleeve, for preventing relative movement withoutplacing any rotative pressure or strain on the screw-threads when theconnected parts are rotated as a unit. In other words, the complementalmale and female portions are formed non-rotative with respect to eachother when the sleeve is in position, the structure providing against aplacing of strains on. the screw threaded connection while the tool isbeing rotated, thereby retaining the serviceability of an entirelyintegral structure with the advantage of it being formed take-downstructurally. There is an additional advantage resulting from thisstructure in use, in that the sleeve forms an annular strengtheningmember for the walls of the female member of the connection against thestrains thereon provided by the rotative movements of the key, thisstrengthening member being removed by the disconnection of the parts;

.The remaining members of the key herein disclosed are socket keys eachhaving the portion 22 hereinbefore described at their upper ends andhaving their lower ends formed with recesses 24, the walls of which areangular with respect to each other, the recesses being adapted to fitvalve keys of the general type used, 'the drawings showing various formsand sizes employed, one of said socket keys also having a groove 25extending diametrically of the end and intersecting the recess 24 of:the key.

The remaining member or members of the structure is the extension bar26, one end of which is formed with the male portion of the connection,the opposite end having the female portion. This member may be made ofstandard length and in use any required number may be connected togetherto provide the necessary length to the service box key.

Inasmuch as each of the remaining parts of the structure are formed withfemale connecting members, it will be obvious that any of said parts maybe connected directly to the handle portion, thereby permitting of adirect connection of a socket key member with the handle member; where agreat length is desired one or more of the lengthening members 26;may'be employed between the handle member and the socket key member, andinasmuch as the socket ke members all have the same form of-couplmg, itwill be obvious that either one of the forms shown may be connected upin this manner.

There are several particular advantages resulting from the use of theconnection disclosed herein, some of which have been heretofore pointedout-.- In addition thereto, it may be noted that, while the sleeve 20acts to some exteht in' the same manner as the ordinary union orcoupling member, the presence of the male and female portions, providesfor a support for the member to be coupled while the threads are beingengaged, thereby eliminating the necesslty for the user attempting tomanually poslt-ion the membersrelative to each other during the movementof the sleeve.

As will be readily understood, the parts can be taken down and placedwithin a package of relatively small compass, the portion 14 beingremovable and lymg alongside of the extension ,members 26, the socketkey members being connectedup to the several extension members toprevent the r loss. When it is desired to place the key 65 in operation,the service box cap is opened,

the handle portion serving for this purpose, and the necessary length ofkey built up by connecting one or more extensions to the handle andsecuring the socket key member in position at the lower end thereof.

\Vhile I have herein disclosed a preferred type of my invention, it willbe readily understood that variations in structure thereof may be had tomeet varying conditions which may arise, and I reserve the right to makesuch modifications and changes therein as may be found necessaryandwhich may fall within the spirit of the appended claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is,

1. Ina service box key, a round handle portion having an angulartapering upper end and having a collar at its lower end with a reducedangular extension project ing longitudinally below the collar, aninternally threaded sleeve loose on the handle portion and having aninturned flange engaging the collar to retain the sleeve fromdisplacement, a cross bar carried on the upper .end of the handleportion and hav-- ing a central opening of complemental configuration tobind the bar on the handle, and an extension member having an angularsocket snugly receiving the angular extension of the handle portion andhaving exterior; threads about the socket for the reception of saidsleeve.

2. In a service box key, a round handle member having a fixed collar onits lower end, and an angular extension projecting longitudinally belowthe collar, the member being provided with an upwardly taperingangularly formed portion at its upper end, a sleeve loose on the roundhandle and having an inturned fiange adapted to engage the collar toretain the sleeve on the member, and a cross bar carried on the upperend of.the handle member and having an opening therethrough midway ofits ends, the opening being of complemental configuration whereby thecross bar is adapted to bind on the handle member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL T. DOWNS.

Witnesses:

Emvns'rA. Momus,

Mrs. T. W. Pmnson.

